Control apparatus



June 23, 1931. us 1,811,451

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ill WITNESSES: 1 OR 64/ I Bascum 0. 405170 ATTORNEY June 23, 1931.

a. o. AUSTIN CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26; 1925 INVIENTOR 56.56002 0 405/;

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT omen nasccu o. nusrm, orwxnxmsncne, rnmrsrnvmm, assrenoa 'ro wns'rntenousn ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING comm, a conr'oaa'non or rmmsnvnm CONTBDL APPARATUS Application me much 2a, 1925. Serial No. 18,035.

My invention relates to improvements in control apparatus and more particularly to arc-ru turlng devices of the type generally used or breaking electric circuits of hig amperage.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision of an arc-rupturing device that shall be simple and efficient in operation and readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide'for the continual strengthening of an arc-rupturing field during the process of disruption to limit the travel of an arc.

A further object of this invention is to provide for the detachable mounting of the different members of the arc-rupturing device to facilitate its assemblage.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

I The invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of. the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection-with the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Figure 1 isa view in side elevation of one embodiment of the arc-rupturing device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side'elevation of the upper portion of the arc-rupturing device, parts being cut away to show'its construction;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional view along the line 'III-III of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated arc-rupturing device comprises a pair of spaced rods 10 and 11 which serve as a frame for carrying various parts of the structure. Many different 'attachmentsmay be provided for mounting the frame on different supports and in this embodiment of the inpinned to the upper ends of the rods, as

' tothe casting by means of a screw bolt 20.

vention,'g hangers 12 are'provided and attached to theupper ends of the rods.

The hangers comprise rectangular bands 13 provided with threaded openings and shown at 14. Therefore, the frame may be removably suspended from any su port, such as an angle bar 15, by means 0 screws 16 adapted to engage in the threaded openingilsl provided in the rectangular bands.

' order. to insulate the various contact members and are horns, to be described hereinafter, from the bars to prevent grounding, insulating casin s 17 are mounted on the latter. These ins ating members may be constructed from any suitable insulating material, such as micarta, which is adapted tostand strains such as may be applied by clampin the members of the arc-rupturing device t ereon.

The uppe r are horn, shown generally at 18, comprises asin le casting, the forward portion of which is substantially U-shape while the rear portion is shaped to seat on the insulatin casings 17 earned by the rods 10 and 11. %n order to clamp the castin in any desired position on the rods 10 and 11, a plate 19, shaped to seat on the insulating casings 17, is provided and connected 8| 7 As shown, a stud 21 is mounted in an extension of the arc horn castin and serves to carry a terminal 22 provided or electrically connecting any conductor to the arc horn.

Depending from the stud 21 is a block 22, of insulating material, which serves asa panel for'carryin a second terminal member 23, to which a e'xible conductor 24 is attached.

As'will be observed, the U-shaped arc horn, shown generally at 18, includes spaced arms 25 and 26. The arm 26, being integral with the body of the casting, serves as a feedconductor while the outerar'm 25 is disposed to receive an are from a contact'member 27 attached to the casting at the juncture of the arms25and26. 7

In this particular embodiment of the ing vention, a rojection is provided on the arm- 25 and is heated near the outer endof the latter. As will be readily understood, when 1 i such as by the use of screws.

the end of an arc reaches this projection it will be carried outward with the body of the' struction, it is not essential in the building of an etficient arc-rupturing device.

In order to provide an arc-rupturing field, a U-shaped core 28 is disposed in the arc horn 18 so that its parallel-extending arms 51 and 52 project forward. The extent of the arc-rupturing field may beextended by attaching to the arms of the core, pole pieces 29 and 30. In the construction illustrated, the pole pieces 29 and 30 are supported on the core 28 by means of bolts 53 which extend through. both members.

As will be observed, the core 28 is insulated from the arc horn 18 by an insulator-'31. The insulator may be made from someflexible insulating material and mounted on the core either before or after it is shaped.

The operation of the arc-rupturing device may be eflected by an air engine 32 suspended from the rods 10 and 11 in any suitable manner, such as by the use of bolts 33. Air engines of this type are well known in the art and further description is considered unnecessary.

As will be noted, a casting 33 is carried by the plunger 34 of the air engine 32. Formed integral with the forward portion of the casting 33 is an arc horn of substantially U-shape, shown generally at 35.

As shown, the arc horn 35 includes spaced arms 36 and 37. The forward arm 36 is somewhat longer than the rear arm 37. As set forth, the .arc horn is formed integral with the casting 33, but it will be readily understood that the arc horn may be formed as a separate unit and removably attached to the casting. In order to concentrate the lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn 35, a core 38 is disposed between the arms of the are horn and fixed to the forward arm 36 in any suitable manner,

In order to concentrate the lines of magnetic force emanating from the core 38, pole pieces 40 are supported from the pole pieces 29 and 30 and disposed to lie in the same planes. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the pole pieces 40 are attached to connecting members or plates 50 and the latter to pole pieces 29 and 30 by bolts 54.

The pole pieces 40 are mounted to lie close to be the ends of the core 38 so that lines of magnetic force induced in the core are collected by the pole pieces 40 and concentrated to form an arcrupturing field about the are horn 35.

Pole pieces 40 are suspended from the pole pieces 29 and30. These pole pieces 40 extend in the planes of the corresponding pole .pieces 29 and 30. Thus, the lines of magnetic force induced in the core 38'are distributed,

the arms 41 to permit an oscillatory move- 'ment of the former. A contact member 43 is fixed to the block 42 and is located in alinement with the contact member 27.

In order to provide for a wiping engagement between the contact members 27 and 43, a spring 44 is mounted between a downwardly-extending arm provided on the block 42 and a set-screw 50 mounted in the rear portion of the casting 33'. This spring serves to retain the contact member 43 inclined at an 1 angle to the face of the contact member 27 when the contact members are separated.

The lower end of the flexible conductor 24 is connected to the block 42 to establish electrical connection between the contact member 43 and the terminal 23. This permits an oscillatory movement of the block 42 as the contact member 43 is projected upward on the operation of theair engine.

In order to protect the pole pieces 29, 30 and 40, an arc chute 45 of rectangular cross section is provided. As shown in Fig. 1, the arc chute is set between the oppositelydisposed pole pieces and rests on an arm 46 formed integral with the casing of the air engine.

The are chute may be retained in position "in any suitable manner, such, for example,

as by providin a depending latch 47, which may be engage by a bolt 48 pivotally mounted on the arm. 46. A nut 49 is provided on the bolt 48 to lock the latch 47.

o Assume that it is desired to close a circuit through the arc-rupturing device. Then the air engine is operated to project the piston 34 upward. As the piston moves upward, the forward end of the contact member 43 engages thevcontact member 27 and the block 42 is oscillated, causing the contact member 43 to slide on the contact member 27 and to finally engage the latter throughout its length. Current now flows from the terminal 22 through the arm 26 of the arc horn 18, contact member 27, contact member 43, the block 42 and the flexible conductor 24 to the terminal 23.

In order to break the circuit, the air engine is again operated to separate the contact members 43 and 27. When the contact mem is are separted, an arc is drawn between them. Since the spring 44 was, ompressed core 28,- which is distributed through the pole pieces 29 and 30, building up a magnetic field which tends to force the are outward. Consequently, the arc is then delivered to the arc horns 18 and 35. Nhen the are is located between the arc horns, current flows from the contact terminal 22 throu h the arm 26 of the arc horn 18, the arm 3 of the arc horn 35 and back through th casting 33 and flexible conductor 24 to th: terminal 23. Thus,-a magnetic flux is induced in the core 38, building up an arcrupturingiield about the arc horn 35.

It will be understood that as the ends of the arc travel outward along the arms 25 and 36 of the arc horns 18 and 35, respectively, the length of the energized conductors which induce magnetic flux in the cores 28 and 38 is continually increased. Consequently, the flux induced in the cores is continually increased, thereby continuously strengthening the arc-rupturing field, or in other .words, the total number of lines of flux in the arc-rupturing field continuously increases after the arc has been drawn and during the rupturing process.

Finally, the strength of the magnetic field is so increased that it efi'ects a disruption of the arc.

Since various changes may be made in the above-described construction and arrangement of parts, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1, .In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a plurality of relatively movable arc horns, cores adapted to concentrate the lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing through the arc hornsto provide an arcrupturing field, said are horns being looped about the cores to strengthen the arc-rupturing field as'arcs travel along them.

2| In an arc-rupturing device, in combina tion, a plurality of relatively movable arc horns, contact members carried by the arc horns, said are horns being substantially U-shaped, one arm ofeach serving as a feed conductor for the corresponding contact member, cores disposed between the armsof said are horns for concentrating the lines of magnetic force induced by the current flowing through the arc horns to provide an arcrnpturing field.

3. In an arc-rupturing device, in combina-- tion, a frame, an arc horn carried 'by the frame, a core for concentrating lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn, said are born being shaped to receive the core and to form a loop about it,

thereby to induce a gradually increasing flux as an arc travels along the are born.

4. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried by the' duced by current flowing in the arc horn, and

pole pieces carried by the core to distribute the lines of magneticforce to provide an arcrupturing field.

5. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried by the frame, said are horn being substantially of U-shape, one arm. being disposed to serve as a feed conductor, a core mounted between the arms of the are born, said core being adapted to concentrate lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn, pole pieces carried by the core to distribute the lines of magnetic force to provide an arcrupturing field, and a fixed contact member mounted on the arc horn at the point of juncture of the arms. 7

6. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried bythe frame, said are horn being substantially of U-shape, one arm. being disposed to serve as.

a feed conductor, a core mounted between the arms of the arc horn, said core being adapted to concentrate lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn, pole pieces carried by the core to distribute the linesof magnetic force to provide an arc-rupturing field, and a fixed contact member mounted on the arc horn at the point of juncture of the arms, a movable contact member disposed in alinement with the fixed contact member and. an arc horn disposed to move with said movable contact member. v

7. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried by the frame, said are horn being substantially of U-sha-pe, one arm being disposed to serve as a feed conductor, a core mounted between the arms of the arc horn, said core being adapted to concentrate lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn, pole pieces carried by the core? to distribute the lines of magnetic force to provide an arcrupturing field, and a fixed contact member mounted on the arc horn at the point of juncture of the arms, a movable contact member disposed in alinement with the fixed contact member, a substantially U-shaped arc horn mounted to move with the movable contact member.

8. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried by the frame, said are horn being substantially of U-shape, one arm being disposed to serve as a feed conductor, a core mounted between the arms of the arc horn, said core being adapted to concentrate lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn, pole pieces carried by the core to distribute the lines of magnetic force to provide an arcrupturing field, and a fixed contact member mounted on the arc' horn at the point of juncture of the arms, a movable contact member disposed in alinement with the fixed contact member, a substantially U-shaped arc horn mounted to move with the movable c011- tact member and a core fixed between the arms of the movable arc horn.

9. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried by the frame, said are horn being substantially of U-shape, one arm being disposed to serve as a feed conductor,a core mounted between the arms of the arc horn, said core being adapted to concentrate lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in thearc horn, pole pieces carried by the core to distribute the lines of magnetic force to provide an arcrupturing field, and a fixed contact member mounted on the arc horn at the point of juncture of the arms, a movable contact member disposed in alinementwith the fixed contact member, a substantially U-shaped are horn mounted to move with the movable contact member and a core fixed between the arms of the movable arc horn, said core being disposed to move between the pole pieces, thereby to strengthen the magnetic field during the process of disruption.

10. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, a frame, an arc horn carried by the frame, said are horn being substantially of U-shape, one arm being disposed to serve as a feed conductor, a core mounted between the arms of the arc horn, said core being adapted to concentrate lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn, pole pieces carried by the core to distribute the lines of magnetic force toiprovide an arc-rupturing field, and a fixed contact member mounted on the arc horn at the point of juncture of the arms, a movable contact member disposed in alinement with the fixed contact member, a substantially U-shaped arc horn mounted to move with the movable contact member and a core fixed between the arms of the movable arc horn, said corebeing disposed to move between the pole pieces, thereby to strengthen the magnetic field during the process of disruption, and an arc chute adapted to be removably mounted on the frame to extend between the pole pieces and the arc horns.

11. In an arc-rupturing device, in combination, an arc horn, a core disposed to con centrate the lines of magnetic force induced by current flowing in the arc horn to provide an arc-rupturing field, said are hornv being looped about the core to strengthen rupturing field as an arc travels outwardly along the arc horn. I

12. An arc-rupturing device comprising a the arc-.

netizable material, the bight of said U-shaped core being disposed in juxtaposition to one of said horns so that the latter extends partially around the periphery of said bight, the legs of the U terminating in pole pieces straddling said are to blow the same along the horns, means being provided for giving the are its initial displacement from said contact members to said horns and partially along the latter, whereby the current thereafter flowing in said one of the horns from the associated contact member to the terminus of the arc, produces a magnetizing action Iwhich increases as the arc moves along said orn 18. An arc-rupturing device comprising a pair of separable contact members, horns disposed adjacent to the respective contact mem-- bers and electrically connected thereto, respectively, and arc-breaking means for blowing the are out along said horns after the separation of said contact members char acterized by the fact that said arc-breaking means comprises a U-shaped core of magnetizable material, the bight of said U-shaped core being disposed in juxtaposition to one of said horns so that the latter extends partially around the periphery of said bight, the legs of the U terminating in pole pieces straddling said arc to blow the same along the horns, means being provided for giving the are its initial displacement fromsaid contact members to said horns and partially along the latter, whereby the current thereafter flowing in said one of the horns from the associated contact member to the terminus of the arc, produces a magnetizing action which increases as the arc moves along said horn, said initial displacement means comprising" a conducting member or lead connected to the contact member adjacent to said bight and extending around another portion of the periphery thereof. a

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- BASCUM O. AUSTIN. 

